Abstract
In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the popularity of medicinal plants derived from the traditional sources of knowledge. The desert plant Achillea fragrantissima is traditionally used internally in traditional medicine of the Arabian region against hepatobiliary disorders, inflammatory and spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints, against skin inflammations and for wound healing and as an appetite enhancing drug.
This plant is characterized by protective antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The main pharmacologically active principles were shown to be polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes and alkamides.
Aqueous and alcoholic extracts prepared from A. fragrantissima were well tolerated in acute and long-term safety studies in rats when administered orally and have a number of significant pharmacological effects, among others beneficially affects astrocytes and downregulates microglial activation.